SE Positioning: Is Search Engine Positioning Dead?

Is Search Engine Positioning Dead?

Written by Michael Buck

One of repparttar

trendiest takes on Internet marketing these days seems to be this notion that securing top search engine rankings “no longer works.” Where it started, I have no idea. But rarely does a week go by when I don’t see one or more Internet marketing “experts” claiming that search engine positioning is largely a waste of time and should not be a primary focus of web site owners.

Well…as repparttar 128192 saying goes, “there are two sides to every story.”

But let’s not make this article about my side, or your side, or anyone else’s side. Let’s forget about my opinion and other “experts” opinions and stick to repparttar 128193 indisputable facts, as reported by highly credible 3rd party sources:

=> According to a Forrester Research Media Field Study, getting a loyal audience in repparttar 128194 first place is best done by Search Engine Placement.

=> According to a GVU Users Survey, 84.8% of Internet users use Search Engines to find websites.

=> In a study released by ActivMedia Research in September 1999, Search Engine Positioning was ranked as repparttar 128195 #1 website promotional method used by eCommerce sites.

=> And look what I just found in repparttar 128196 April 2000 issue of Target Marketing Magazine. (Source: IMT Strategies - imtstrategies.com)

"Top Ways Websites are Discovered"

Banner ads: 1%

Targeted email: 1.2%

TV spots: 1.4%

"By accident": 2.1%

Magazine ads: 4.4%

Word-of-mouth: 20%

Random Surfing: 20%

Search Engines: 46%

You’ve now seen repparttar 128197 numbers and know that search engine promotion is very much alive and kicking. But let’s take this a step further. Let’s talk about repparttar 128198 *quality* of prospects coming to your web site through search engines as opposed to other advertising mediums.

Every time your potential customers use repparttar 128199 search engines, they qualify themselves as *hot prospects* by conducting searches on keywords that are directly related to your product or service. Their choice of keywords is proof that they have a genuine interest in what you offer. These people spend their valuable time exploring repparttar 128200 search engines for your type of product or service.

Creating Link Popularity - Without Getting Banned

Written by Dan Thies

Creating Link Popularity - Without Getting Banned by Dan Thies

By now, most webmasters know that link popularity is repparttar single most important factor in driving top search engine rankings. But did you know that some some links can actually kill your search engine rankings?

The importance of links has led to repparttar 128191 creation of "links programs" such as LinksToYou and others. If you're already in a links program, hold on to your hat, because I've got bad news for you.

How Links Programs Work: In a links program, every member of repparttar 128192 program uploads a page or pages to their website. These pages carry links to repparttar 128193 other program participants' websites.

Why They Don't Help Search Engine Rankings: All of repparttar 128194 major search engines are aware of these programs, and most of them use automated processes to weed out "identical" pages. Even if a search engine recognizes repparttar 128195 link, they won't give it much weight.

How Links Programs Can Kill Your Business: The most popular search engine in repparttar 128196 world today is Google. In late 2000, Google began a systematic campaign of permanently removing links program participants from their index. Altavista has begun a similar program, although recent problems kept them from executing it.

Don't repparttar 128197 operators of links programs know all this? Of course they do, yet they continue to operate and proliferate. Tobacco companies know cigarettes kill people, yet they continue to sell them. I'm sure both would tout repparttar 128198 "benefits" of their product as a justification.

What To Do If You're In A Links Program: First, immediately remove all of repparttar 128199 program's pages from your site. Second, remove all repparttar 128200 links they had you set up on your other pages. Third, if possible, cancel your membership... then get to work creating some legitimate link popularity.

Creating True Link Popularity If you want your site to have lasting popularity and relevance with repparttar 128201 search engines, you need links from related sites. Dedicate 10 minutes a day to locating and contacting other webmasters to swap links, adding your site to directories, and publishing articles in your area of expertise.

Create Multiple Layers Of Links For some search engines, links to your home page are good enough. At least some of your links, though, should be targeted at your internal pages. For example, if your site sells tools for gardeners, get some links set up to your "how to" and FAQ pages too. This will help you get more of your site's content into repparttar 128202 search engine, and increase referrals significantly.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>